You're in! Baseball/softball, 4 other sports make Tokyo cut (Yahoo Sports) Baseball and softball are returning to the Olympics in 2020, while skateboarding, surfing, karate and sport climbing are joining the games for the first time. The IOC approved the addition of the sports Wednesday for the Tokyo Games, calling it an ''innovative'' mix of traditional and youth-oriented events that will … [Read more...]

US boxer Claressa Shields punching toward 2nd Olympic gold (The Associated Press) Claressa Shields got the Olympic rings tattooed on her powerful right bicep five weeks ago. ''When I win my second Olympic gold medal, I'm going to put 'Au' right here,'' Shields said, pointing to the special spot. Four years after Shields unexpectedly dominated the first Olympic women's boxing tournament, … [Read more...]

US boxer Claressa Shields punching toward 2nd Olympic gold (Yahoo Sports) Claressa Shields got the Olympic rings tattooed on her powerful right bicep five weeks ago. ''When I win my second Olympic gold medal, I'm going to put 'Au' right here,'' Shields said, pointing to the special spot. Four years after Shields unexpectedly dominated the first Olympic women's boxing tournament, she is … [Read more...]

Olympics-Cycling-Team pursuit gold is Britain's to lose, says Wiggins (Reuters) (Adds dropped word in first para) By Martyn Herman RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Bradley Wiggins says only a gold medal will justify his return to his track cycling roots at the Rio Olympics, declaring the men's team pursuit title is Britain's to lose. The 36-year-old will become his country's most … [Read more...]

Matt Kuchar thought Olympic golf was a team competition; it's not Matt Kuchar is one of four U.S. men in the Olympic golf tournament (Getty Images) Matt Kuchar is part of the seven-player — four men, three women — American contingent taking part in golf’s return to the Olympics next week in Rio de Janeiro. Apparently, until Wednesday, he figured he would be representing the U.S.A. along … [Read more...]

Report: Leadership of Olympic federations lacking in women (Yahoo Sports) As athletes around the world head to Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Olympics this week, men continue to overwhelmingly outnumber women in leadership spots at international organizations that govern the games, a new report shows. Women are projected to make up 45 percent of the athletes competing in Rio. … [Read more...]

Tyson Fury given doping suspension after positive test (The Associated Press) World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury was provisionally suspended in June after testing positive for a banned substance, Britain's anti-doping body said Wednesday. The boxers were charged on June 24 over the ''presence of a prohibited substance,'' UKAD said, and mandatory provisional suspensions were … [Read more...]

Olympics begin with Sweden beating South Africa in soccer (Yahoo Sports) The first Olympics in Brazil are underway - aptly with a game of soccer in the sport's spiritual home. Sweden's women beat South Africa 1-0 in a drab group-stage game Wednesday in front of a sparse crowd of only a couple of thousand spectators in Rio de Janeiro. It was settled by veteran defender Nilla Fischer opening … [Read more...]

Phelps to carry United States flag during Olympic opening (Yahoo Sports) Unlike the last four Olympics, Michael Phelps will be taking part in the opening ceremony for the Rio Games. Phelps will be the bearer of the U.S. flag during the Friday night ceremony at Maracana Stadium, selected in a vote by all members of the American Olympic team. The decision announced Wednesday makes Phelps, … [Read more...]

PODCAST: Jimmy Walker wins the PGA; talking golf with Shane Battier Jimmy Walker won the Wanamaker Trophy at Baltusrol. (Getty Images) Jimmy Walker won his first major championship at the PGA Championship, with an exciting final 30 minutes against Jason Day. How does his win rank against the other three majors of the year? We’re joined in the second half of the show by two-time NBA champion … [Read more...]